Toilets, Sinks, Showers, Tubs and Disposals - Not hot water in shower
Doityourself.com community forum was created to provide answers to all questions related to home improvement and home repair. Doityourself community can help you find information about how-to topics on small fixes to large remodeling projects. With comprehensive how-to content and expertly moderated community forums DoItYourself.com makes it easy to tackle even the most complex home improvement projects.View Full Version : Not hot water in shower
thelaststop
12-15-07, 09:53 AM
I'm having a similar problem to the person's post below me. I can get very hot water fromt he bathroom and kitchen sink, but when I use the shower, I have to turn it all the way to hot to get lukewarm, sometimes cool water. The water heater is less than a year old, and this has been occurring since I moved into the house in July 2007. What would be causing an issue like this? Any insight would be greatly appreciated!
Gunguy45
12-15-07, 10:56 AM
Hi Laststop,
Sounds like your mixing valve (what the shower handle is attached to, in the wall) is clogged or damaged.
Take the handle and trimplate off. Look at each side of the mixing valve body in the wall. If you are lucky you will have a small screw type fitting on each side near the inlet pipes. These are cutoffs for the water supply. Or just shut off water to the whole hose. Each type of valve is different, some use cartridges which have to be replaced, others can be rebuilt with commonly available kits from hardware and home centers. Check the handle and the valve body for a manufacturer name. Most of them have websites with info on re-building/repairing their products. The kits themselves have basic instructions as well.
Caution: make sure you start early in the morning to be sure you can get the parts you need. There may be some running from place to place depending on the type you have. Nothing worse than having no water for several days cause you can't get repair parts and the old ones can't be re-used.
Good Luck
Vic
I'm no expert, but don't tell my wife that.
Sounds like your mixing valve (what the shower handle is attached to, in the wall) is clogged or damaged.
Take the handle and trimplate off. Look at each side of the mixing valve body in the wall. If you are lucky you will have a small screw type fitting on each side near the inlet pipes. These are cutoffs for the water supply. Or just shut off water to the whole hose. Each type of valve is different, some use cartridges which have to be replaced, others can be rebuilt with commonly available kits from hardware and home centers. Check the handle and the valve body for a manufacturer name. Most of them have websites with info on re-building/repairing their products. The kits themselves have basic instructions as well.
Caution: make sure you start early in the morning to be sure you can get the parts you need. There may be some running from place to place depending on the type you have. Nothing worse than having no water for several days cause you can't get repair parts and the old ones can't be re-used.
Good Luck
Vic
I'm no expert, but don't tell my wife that.
rav77
12-16-07, 11:24 AM
I am having this same problem in the master bath of my house that I just moved in to. Sinks and soaking tub in the same bathroom work fine.
The shower has a Kohler fixture that I turn to start the shower (no pull). When I removed the handle and trim, I see the valve stem and a tab/stop mechanism for restricting the maximum rotation of the stem. I removed the tab/stop mechanism to see if it was restricting the rotation of the stem, but it was not, so that isn't the problem.
I also see two screws at either side of the valve stem. Are these the screw type fittings Vic mentioned? What do I do to them? Remove them or tighten or loosen? If I need to remove them, do I need to shut off the main water valve first?
Thanks for any help anyone can provide!
rav
The shower has a Kohler fixture that I turn to start the shower (no pull). When I removed the handle and trim, I see the valve stem and a tab/stop mechanism for restricting the maximum rotation of the stem. I removed the tab/stop mechanism to see if it was restricting the rotation of the stem, but it was not, so that isn't the problem.
I also see two screws at either side of the valve stem. Are these the screw type fittings Vic mentioned? What do I do to them? Remove them or tighten or loosen? If I need to remove them, do I need to shut off the main water valve first?
Thanks for any help anyone can provide!
rav
Gunguy45
12-18-07, 08:15 AM
Hi rav77,
The cutoff's would normally be inline with the water inlets, they would be cast right into the body of the mixing valve. Don't confuse the valve body mounting screws with cutoffs. Mounting screws will be screwed thru some tabs, normally right near the center of the valve body casting.
They operate just like a valve, clockwise to close, countercw to open. They may leak some depending on age, condition, mineral buildup, etc.
Its a good idea to turn off the main, tighten the cutoffs (if you have them), open the main, turn on the shower, then check for leakage past the cutoffs by waiting a few minutes to see if water comes out the showerhead. Makes it much easier to work on the valve w/o having no water in the whole house.
Good Luck
The cutoff's would normally be inline with the water inlets, they would be cast right into the body of the mixing valve. Don't confuse the valve body mounting screws with cutoffs. Mounting screws will be screwed thru some tabs, normally right near the center of the valve body casting.
They operate just like a valve, clockwise to close, countercw to open. They may leak some depending on age, condition, mineral buildup, etc.
Its a good idea to turn off the main, tighten the cutoffs (if you have them), open the main, turn on the shower, then check for leakage past the cutoffs by waiting a few minutes to see if water comes out the showerhead. Makes it much easier to work on the valve w/o having no water in the whole house.
Good Luck
Bluejay168
01-16-08, 05:24 PM
I have exactly the same problem in my shower. The following link shows what the valve looks like:
http://s257.photobucket.com/albums/hh229/Bluejay168/Kohler/
I did not see the cutoff mechanism after removing the coverplate. Any suggestion what to do next?
http://s257.photobucket.com/albums/hh229/Bluejay168/Kohler/
I did not see the cutoff mechanism after removing the coverplate. Any suggestion what to do next?
Gunguy45
01-16-08, 06:30 PM
Bluejay
All you've taken off is the trim, there is more to go.
If you had cut-offs, you can't get to them cause of the tile...so thats a non issue.
You'll have to ID the type of valve (Moen, Kohler, etc)
Buy a new cartridge or repair kit.
Also get some plumbers grease while yer there, unless the replacement includes it.
Turn your water off at the street or your house cutoff.
Remove the old cartridge and replace it.
While the cartridge is out, slightly turn on the water to flush debris that may have accumulated. Helps to have someone inside with a towel to keep it from spraying everywhere.
All you've taken off is the trim, there is more to go.
If you had cut-offs, you can't get to them cause of the tile...so thats a non issue.
You'll have to ID the type of valve (Moen, Kohler, etc)
Buy a new cartridge or repair kit.
Also get some plumbers grease while yer there, unless the replacement includes it.
Turn your water off at the street or your house cutoff.
Remove the old cartridge and replace it.
While the cartridge is out, slightly turn on the water to flush debris that may have accumulated. Helps to have someone inside with a towel to keep it from spraying everywhere.
Terd Herder
01-16-08, 06:33 PM
It s very possible that the temperatures have not been calibrated. This could give the impression that the stops were in the closed or almost closed position. Instructions with the valves will give info on how to do this. I knew a couple that live with luke warm water for three years! I adjusted the temp...115 degrees. Good luck!